After covering the Wizards these last few months I wouldn’t say I know anything more, or less than I did at the onset of the season. John Wall is a long term project who may never figure it out, McGee and Young were cancerous and needed to go, Blatche is a waste of space, and the team is going to struggle to win games. The only other thing I knew at the start of the season that remains true now is that the Wizards are better than the Charlotte Bobcats.

After Monday nights 113-89 victory over the Bobcats in Charlotte the Wizards can rest easy, they are not the worst team in the NBA.

Watching even a few possessions of last nights game was downright torture. I found myself searching for better games on League Pass, hoping the Wizards/Bobcats showdown would give me any semblance of hope, for either team; that was not the case. John Wall scored two points…two…as I watched Cartier Martin (19 points) and James Singleton (18), two players on 10-day contracts, tear the lowly Bobcats apart.

Jordan Crawford scored 20 points in only 21 minutes to lead the Wiz, it was Crawfords 16th 20-point effort of the season. Rookie Kemba Walker was the high man for Charlotte, leading them with 16 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Just watching the Bobcats play makes me feel better for the future of the Wizards organization. At least we have some young pieces that can and should develop. At least we have an organizational structure that should be conducive to winning and building through the draft. At least we know our owner is 100% committed towards building a winner (I hate calling MJ out, ever, but he’s managed the Bobcats into the ground; a lot like what he did during his tenure with the Wizards).

I know it’s hard to find a silver lining during a 13-44 campaign, but hell, at least we’re not 7-48 with no fan support and a wishy washy front office, right?

Having said that, the Wiz are far from becoming a competitive, even competent team. With only nine games left in the regular season it’s time, officially, to look at the product on the court and speculate what it’ll be next season. Realistically the Wizards need a starting shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. Young players like Vesely, Crawford, Chris Singleton, and Kevin Seraphin have all showed promise but they wouldn’t start for any contending teams, and it’s time for the Wizards, as an organization to begin thinking that way.

Wizards Owner, Ted Leonsis built the Capitals into a contender. Can he do the same for the Wiz?

Rashard Lewis’s $20+ million contract is the most valuable trade asset the Wiz will be able to offer teams this off season. Amnestying Blatche’s contract from the books and moving Lewis would open up the Wizards cap space and allow them to be very aggresive during the draft and free agency.

It’s time to be bold, it’s time to stop hiding behind the “rebuilding” label. If the Wizards hope to win back their fans and make noise next season they need to start thinking like a championship caliber organization, not one that is just hoping to hover around .500.

Let’s see how they close the season out first though.

Coming Up: Orlando tonight, @NYK Friday, Cleveland Saturday

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Written by Frank Sullivan
Frank is a graduate of Old Dominion University, sports fan, author, and founder of TheBloosh.com. He's been working with prosportsblogging.com since April 2011, and has covered the Chicago Bulls, Baltimore Ravens, Virginia Tech Hokies Football, and the Washington Wizards. Frank can be reached @franksullivan on twitter.